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Paul McCartney joins stars to sing for action on climate change

Paul McCartney has teamed up with a host of famous musicians to record a song dedicated to taking action to save the world.

Love Song to the Earth, which is released today on iTunes and Apple Music via Connect, is intended to push environmental matters to the forefront of the public’s mind in advance of important climate change talks taking place later this year.

Hopes are high that a meaningful deal will be inked at the COP21 conference in Paris in November and December, when world leaders will meet to discuss responses to the challenges confronting the planet.

The Love Song to the Earth project aims to bring climate change to the attention of a new audience and inspire people across the world to encourage their leaders to take action.

One simple, healthy step we can all take is to cut back on the amount of meat we eat – which is why the founder of Meat Free Monday is the perfect addition to the star-studded line-up.

Paul sings the second set of lyrics and supplies backing vocals on the track, which also features Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Sean Paul, Angelique Kidjo, Natasha Bedingfield, Fergie, Nicole Scherzinger, Leona Lewis and many others.

Listeners will be asked to sign a petition that will be delivered to political leaders at the start of the climate conference.

The track will be available for a week on iTunes and Apple Music, before being released on other music distribution and streaming services around the world next Friday.

A video also released next week will feature cameos from the likes of environmentalist Bill McKibben, primatologist Jane Goodall and marine biologist Sylvia Earle.

All proceeds from Love Song to the Earth will go towards environmental group Friends of the Earth and the United Nations Foundation. The artists, producers and directors taking part will also donate their fees.

“The climate crisis is near a global tipping point,” said Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth US. “We hope everyone who hears this anthem takes action to encourage our political leaders to keep our planet safe, by keeping fossil fuels in the ground and moving toward 100 per cent renewable energy.”

In words that will chime with MFMers already used to taking responsibility for their carbon footprints and leading by example, Pica added: “The time for leadership and action is now; if our political leaders cannot or will not lead, then a people’s movement must.”